The rumour mill in Fort Erie about someone potentially running for regional chair is quiet, but Mayor Wayne Redekop says it’s possible a candidate from the town could be successful in the race if his or her profile is high enough.

He said whoever wins will have to be well-known in Niagara’s bigger municipalities like Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, but someone who is from a smaller town or city, a familiar face in places such as Fort Erie — whether it’s through business or politics — still stands a chance.

However, he said, Niagara Falls is key — along with having roots in the more quaint parts of the region.

“If you could take Niagara Falls, maybe four or five of the other smaller communities, you could win,” Redekop said in an interview.

Current chair Alan Caslin has not announced any plans for the October election and a few other names have been circulated in the conversation so far. Whoever does decide to run, Redekop expects that person will want to act fast and not waste much time before publicly indicating their intentions.

A change in the process this time around is that candidates must wait until May to file their papers, rather than on Jan. 1.

This will be the first time the chair’s position is decided by the electorate and not by regional council.

“It’s good that it’s an elected position, but it’s a very daunting task for anyone to campaign in such a geographically wide region,” said Redekop.

Redekop said this will have an impact on campaign donations but won’t slow anyone down who is sure about running and decides to tell the community long before registration opens at town hall.

Through social media, it’s very easy for newcomers and incumbents to get started early, he said.

“That will happen before May,” said Redekop.

“I don’t know what was on the minds of some of these legislators when they decided to make these changes,” he said.

Redekop said one advantage of letting the residents of Niagara choose the chair, a position he said many people don’t know a lot about, is that it raises awareness about this key role on regional council.

“That might be one of the benefits of an election at large across the region — the candidates will now have to get out to the municipalities,” he said.

The spending limit for the regional chair’s position will be in the $285,000 range based on rules set by the province ($7,500 plus 85 cents per elector).

There is a donation limit of $750, and it must come from an identifiable individual. Corporations and unions can no longer make donations.

New provisions also negate some of the advantages of a well-heeled candidate. Under the old rules, a candidate could finance his or her entire campaign. Now, there is a limit of $25,000 the candidate, or their spouse, can contribute. Third-party advertisers must register, can’t be directed by candidates, and must file financial statements.